The Mark

Here is a movie I can truly recommend to all. It has all the elements needed: good vs. Evil, action, drama, suspense, romance and a good moral base.

The world is in chaos and financial ruin. Chad Turner, played by Craig Sheffer, is an ex special forces agent who is hired to provide security detail on a mission in Bangkok where a surgical procedure is taking place. After security has been breached, the doctor who was performing the procedure injects Chad with a microchip without his consent. This microchip is made by a corporation called Avanti. While recovering in an undisclosed location owned by Avanti, Chad meets Cooper (Eric Roberts), a representative from Avanti, who tells him he is now one of the most important men around and that he will be taking Chad to the G20 convention in Berlin. There Avanti is scheduled to make a big announcement.

Meanwhile Phylip Turk (Ivan Kamaras), the leader of the World Bank and Turk Industries, has tried to buy the microchip, but Avanti was unwilling to sell. Turk enlists the services of a group of mercenaries led by Joseph Pike (Gary Daniels) to recover this new technology, unaware the chip is inside of Chad Turner. The plane that Chad and Cooper are traveling on is hijacked by Pike and his men.

Interspersed throughout the film are flashback scenes where Chad and his brother are having dinner and talking about God and faith. Chad is not a Christian, but his brother is. These scenes are pivotal in Chad’s decision about how he comes to feel in regards to the chip he is carrying and his responsibility in who gets their hands on it.

It is great to see a Christian film that unabashedly says what it wants. Its message of truth is clear. I’ve seen movies that may have started out as Christian, but Hollywood took over and watered down its truths or interspersed secular views and behaviors (“The Vow” comes to mind). Christian films have definitely gotten better over time. It’s great to see the shift in Christian films (and for that matter, Christian music), as the Christian film community becomes more polished and is able to turn out a better product. Obviously budgets are smaller and while such films can get well known actors, they don’t have the huge names for star power. Certainly this movie has some areas where it feels lower budget. Scenes of the sky do not feel or look real, and some acting is a little weak. But I must say, having seen Christian films in the past, this one is done very well. I was impressed by it. Someone who is used to Hollywood big budgets may not care for this film, but again, I cannot say enough for how well I thought this film was done.

This film was produced by Pure Flix, a Christian movie studio. They appear to have produced 38 movies, according to their Web site. Some of the talent in their movies are famous actors who are Christians, such as John Schneider and Kevin Sorbo. Others are not Christians. Some, as with Craig Sheffer, Eric Roberts and Gary Daniels, have starred in more than one Pure Flix film. I often wonder how actors who do not profess to be Christians can star in Christian films and walk away unchanged. I think of various actors who have starred in dark roles, and how it did admittedly have some effect on their lives, whether small or large. So I would think and hope that any actor who stars in a Christian film has had a seed planted. What happens from there is up to them and any other influences God can bring into their life. 1 Corinthians says “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (NIV). I hope with each Christian film they work on, that the seed that was planted grows a little. Maybe to them, it’s just another acting job, but it’s also an opportunity for God’s message to be shared with the talent working on the film and to all of us who watch it.

There is some violence is this film. It deals with the ultimate good vs. the ultimate evil and the end times, so how can there not be violence? There are gun battles in the beginning and on the plane, and there is blood. If I recall, only one time a person is shot do we see blood on the glass wall behind the injured person. Most of the time, there is no blood seen after a gun shot. There are, however, injuries that result with blood on 2 people who are alive and a flight attendant who is not hurt has blood on her clothes. There is no foul language and nothing sexual. Even clothing on women is modest.

The ending left such an opening for a sequel that I was not surprised to immediately see a preview for “The Mark: Redemption.” I, myself, will be watching that film and looking into some of Pure Flix’s other film choices. I encourage you to do the same.

In spite of the violence, I do recommend this movie. I feel the moral content and message of faith and what is to truly come, does outweigh the violence portrayed. Revelation 1:3 says “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (KJV). Christians, as a reminder to us all, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole Earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.